58 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF 



cats, flies, or insects continually communicate the contagion of 

 the disease from one animal to another, appears to be an ultra 

 idea, according to which, on the outbreak of murrain, no single 

 animal of a district could escape, as all insulation of the dis- 

 eased from the sound stock would be ineffective and fruitless. 

 Previously to the introduction of healthy cattle into houses 

 where diseased ones have. been kept up, the fodder racks and 

 mangers, as well as the brick or plaster work, ought to be well 

 scoured with hot water ; and the whole interior of the places, 

 with closed doors and windows, be well fumigated with the 

 vapor of chlorine ; produced in the following manner : — 



" In iron pans, placed in several parts of the cattle-house, 

 put a tea-spoonful of finely powdered oxide of manganese, 

 well mixed with the same quantity of common salt, and the 

 whole moistened with water ; then add oil of vitriol in small 

 quantities. These vapors from manganese are not only cheaper 

 but stronger than those produced by pouring oil of vitriol over 

 chloride of lime. They must, however, be employed with 

 moderation, otherwise they will inflict injury on the lungs. 

 Such of the herdsmen's clothes, also, as are not washed with 

 chloride of lime water, should be fumigated. 



" For the purpose of preserving sound cattle from the mur- 

 rain. Dr. Pessina rejects all venesections and purges, as well 

 as all strong stimulating medicines, and even setons. The pre- 

 servative means, by which the Esurgo herds have been so well 

 protected from the murrain, consists in a separation of the 

 sound from the diseased stock, a daily weak fumigation of the 

 cattle houses with chlorine, wholesome food and water, and clean 

 airy houses, rather cool than hot, and not crowded with stock. 

 In the animals which died of the disease, the fourth stomach 

 and the intestines were corroded and inflamed, the gall-bladder 

 unusually large, and preternaturally distended with an accu- 

 mulation of green watery bile ; the mass of blood throughout 

 the system was in a corrupt confluent condition ; and in many 

 cases particular internal portions were in a state of decompo- 

 sition, all evincing an inflamed, corroded, or mortifying con- 

 dition of the body. 



